Search for IRA murder victim Columba McVeigh begins

THE FORENSIC scientist leading the search in Co Monaghan for the remains of one of the Disappeared, Columba McVeigh, has appealed for anyone with even the most “trivial” information to come forward. Geoff...

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Philadelphia Soldier Missing from Vietnam War Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of a serviceman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Army Capt. Charles R. Barnes of Philadelphia, Pa., will be buried May 2, in Arlington National Cemetery. On March 16, 1969, Barnes and four other service members departed Qui Nhon Airfields bound for Da Nang and Phu Bai, in a U-21A Ute aircraft. As they approached Da Nang, they encountered low clouds and poor visibility. Communications with the aircraft were lost, and they did not land as scheduled. Immediate search efforts were limited due to hazardous weather conditions, and all five men were list as missing in action. From 1986-1989, unidentified human remains were turned over to the United States from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (S.R.V.) in several different instances. None of the remains...

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Mangalore: Mass burial site of crash victims not indicated

TOI-pk The mass burial site of 12 victims of the IX-812 crash at Tannir Bhavi near here is now an obscure spot. Barring a few undulations where the bodies were buried and a red and white tape bordering the site, there is hardly any indication to show that the bodies of the air crash victims lie interned there. This has angered many, including Robert Pinto, who had airline crew - Yuganthar Rana and Mohammed Ali and who perished in the air crash - as his tenants. Pinto said the district administration should at least erect a fence so that the site is not disturbed and a board to indicate that unidentified bodies were buried there. One of the cabin crew, Sujatha Survase, from Maharashtra was also buried there. Not all of her family members could come for the mass burial as it was decided by the administration at the last minute. If her relatives want to see the site where she was buried, they will be shocked. Can I show that place and say...

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Assam asks Dhaka to help locate ferry victims

Guwahati, May 2 (IANS) Assam has sought help from Bangladesh to trace bodies of a ferry disaster which might have been washed away downstream, an official said Wednesday. As authorities resumed search operations for the Monday victims, an Assam government spokesman admitted that Bangladesh had been asked to help. The incident took place in lower Assam’s Dhubri district. Border Security Force (BSF) and National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF) personnel are engaged in the search for the missing following the tragedy that is feared to have killed 270 people. The spokesman said strong river currents may have washed away the bodies downstream to Bangladesh. Although it is estimated that about 270 died in the worst ever ferry tragedy in Assam, the administration is yet to confirm the exact number of the dead. “We have reports that there were about 350 people on board and only 80 were rescued. However, our investigation is still on and we cannot...

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